First part of Castle area parks upgrades finished

PUBLIC CAN NOW USE IMPROVED FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS REGION

Numerous upgrades to the Castle parks area are now ready for the public to use.

On Thursday, Environment and Parks minister Shannon Phillips announced that the first part of a four-part, $20 million plan to upgrade amenities in the Castle parks is complete.

“Albertans want to create memories with their families,” she said.

“They want to hike. They want to camp. They want to fish. they want to hunt.”

She added the province’s investment is in large part to ensure Albertans are given opportunities to take part in those activities.

Enhancements to the area include the refurbishment of 184 campsites, and improvements to the day-use area at Butcher’s Lake, and comfort cabins at Beaver Mines Lake.

Improvements include new firepits, picnic tables, information kiosks and signage, as well as vaulted toilets and trail improvements throughout the park.

An expansion to the Butcher’s Lake day-use area includes a new trailhead, washroom facility and additional parking.

Four comfort cabin units will open at Beaver Mines Lake Campground this summer, expanding the diversity of opportunities offered in the Castle Provincial Park.

Other projects underway include new day-use shelters and the creation of more than a dozen rustic camping sites capable of supporting RVs.

The 184 campsites in Castle Provincial Park are located at at Castle River Bridge, Castle Falls, Lynx Creek and Beaver Mines provincial recreation areas.

The province is also conducting an assessment of all trails in the parks to develop a backcountry system for improved cross-country skiing, mountain biking, snowshoeing and horseback riding.

Further, there is a pilot program underway to create campsites which mimic rustic camping areas which feature small clusters of camping units around a single campfire.

“Some people really prefer that completely wilderness experience,” said Phillips.

“We have no quarrel with that. What we want to make sure is that those experiences are appropriately supported, such as being set back from the river the way they need to be, and they have the right kind of other supports, like garbage cans and fire pits.”

The government previously announced $6 million for paving an 11-kilometre gravel section of Highway 774 within the newly established park, as well as $9 million towards a water line serving Castle Provincial Park, Castle Mountain Resort and neighbouring communities.

The establishment of the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park protects 103,000-hectares of prime habitat on the eastern slopes.

Conservation is a major objective of the parks, which includes safely increasing the opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism.

The Castle parks already offers frontcountry and backcountry camping, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, scrambling, climbing and mountain biking.

However, the province has been heavily criticized by OffHighway-Vehicle enthusiasts for moves designed to end the use of OHVs in those areas where previously they were allowed.

Follow @JWSchnarrHerald on Twitter

The establishment of the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park protects 103,000hectares of prime habitat on the eastern slopes.